Playing-cards.



J. J. COLL.

PLAYING CARDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3. 1915.

1,152,605, PatentedSept. 7, 1915.

.JoHn J. ooLnoF nnivo, NEVADA.

' PLAYING-CARDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Sept. 7, 1915.

Application filed February 3, 1915. Serial No. 5,8?5.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN J. COLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reno, in the county of lVashoe-and State of Nevada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Playing-Cards, of which the following is a specification. M

This invention relates to improvements in playing cards.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a card of the above character which will be simple and practical in corn struction, inexpensive to manufacture and durable in use.

A further object is to provide a playing card adapted to prevent identification by inspection of its back- Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawingsand in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention. v

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations of the members and in the relative proportioning and dispositionthereof all as more completely outlined herein. 1 v

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, ,1

drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete card showing more particularly its rear surface; Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary views of cards showing designed backs.

In order that a clearer perception of the present invention and the several objects sought to be accomplished thereby may be fully recognized by those skilled in the art, it may be stated that with many playing cards, the backs are provided with printed designs. These designs vary in position on the backs of the cards in one way or another, to such an extent that to a careful observer the cards are distinguishable one from another by mere inspection of the backs, thereby enabling a player to identify or recognize the cards held by his opponent. Not only are cards bearing printed designs subject to the above objections but they are also susceptible to slight markings almost indiscernible by a casual observation, thereby enabling an unscrupulous person to produce a marked pack, giving such person an unfair advantage over his adversary.

It is, therefore, among the objects contemplated in the present invention to pro duce a card free from these and other objections. i

As shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, the card is preferably composed of two superposed layers of material. The back layer a is of paper cardboard or other suitable composition and comprises the major part of the card. This back, as it will be hereinafter referred to, is of a uniform solid color, such as black or dark blue, or brown, extending through the body of the card. It is then faced with a separate sheet of paper 5, preferably white, upon which the figures,

numerals or value symbols are printed. These two layers are secured together by glue or cement and thesurface finished. or sized to render the card most suitable for handling. It may be noted that the relative thickness of the superposed layers of ma terial may be madeto vary from the foregoing, so as to be of equal thickness, or the back portion may be of the lesser thickness. A card of this character having a uniformly colored back of a dark color will not show soiling or wear in the manner in which a card having a designed back would show in the course of time, nor is it possible to scrape or remove the color from the back character will show that the large stars are either located relatively close to or at some distance from the corner, due either to variations in the printing, or to uneven cutting, and the comparative value of the card may be thereby easily determined and remembered by a careful observer; Another very common imperfection in making the backs of cards bearing designs is shown in Fig. 4:,

1n which the printed back is provided with a white border between the same and the edge of the card. This white border in somev cards will be of uniform width around the entire design but often wider at one end than at the sides, or vice versa.

From the above, it will be seen that the present invention provides a card of simple and practical construction, .designedrto acupon the back. 7 r

'complish, among others, all-of the objects face portions, and will eliminate the possibility of determining the value of a card by previous markings or peculiarities or variations of the 'Fromthe foregoing description it will be obvious that any abrasion of the back edge of a card-made in accordance with my invention, and in which the plain uniform 7 coloring extends into or through the body Copies of this patent may be obtained for of thecard cannotdisclosean undersurface of a different color by scratching orwear, as

I would be the case were the color in the nature of a mere surface printing only, and not extending into the body of the card.

A further advantage of my improved card .is thatthe dark coloring with which the body of the same is impregnated renders the card opaque,,so'that when held against the light printing in its position the value symbols on the face thereof cannot be read when viewed from the rear.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fully constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture of the character described, comprising a body portion having a uniform color completely impregnating the same, and a face portion secured to the body portion which is adapted to receive the value symbols of the card.

2. An article of manufacture of the character described, comprising a card composed of superposed layers of relatively ,dllfering thicknesses, one of which 1s of a uniform color throughout, and one of said layers being of a suitable color to receive the print ed markings denoting the valueof the card and securely pasted to its companion layer.

3. A playing card having one of its sides impregnated with a;uniform color through asubstantial portion of its thickness, and anopposite side adapted to receive the value symbols of the card. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. JOHN J. COLL.

Witnesses:

I F. L. BROWNE,

J. K. MOORE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

